My Brother sent me this quote and I would just like to pass it on!

Elder Neal Maxwell:

Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions. (See 1 Kgs. 18:21.)

President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had “never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1941, p. 123). This is a hard doctrine, but it is a particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ!. . . Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted.

This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions. Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened.

Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel.

There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself.

Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, “summer is nigh” (Matt. 24:32). Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat!

Neal A. Maxwell, "A More Determined Discipleship," Ensign, Feb 1979, 69–73.

An address delivered at Brigham Young University , 10 October 1978

Thanksgiving

While I am thankful for many things including our health, our family, our clinic, and being back in Chicago...Thanksgiving is not the same as it was when I was a kid! We always had TONS of family around, since the Vest side of the family would come out and we would go to my Uncle's Northwestern Football Games. We had tons of food and lots of laughs! Now since I have to do all the food by myself and since we only have our little family of five, I just feel overwhelmed! Since Matt can't have any grains or dairy, we have VERY simple holiday foods to begin with. And, on top of that, John and I have very different likes for Thanksgiving foods! Especially Stuffing!! So I have to make 2 kinds of stuffing--He likes the Stove Top stuff in the bird, and I prefer the hand broken dressing you bake in a separate pan! Oh well! We have actually been talking about just buying a pre-made one from Jewel or going to Old Country Buffet and saving us from all the work! At least with the Jewel Dinner, we would have leftovers! Anyway, we did have a good turnout for the food drive and we get to take the food and money over to the Community Care Center tomorrow! I want to do it all together as a family, since we did the food drive all together and we are looking forward to another one next year! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and eat all your favorite Harvest/Thanksgiving Foods! And if you are crazy enough to attempt the Black Friday Sales...HAVE FUN!!

Walking Baby

Ok - It is official...Evie is walking. This is not something I was ready for, but she is 11 months now and will turn 1 next month.

For some new still pics of the kids, see below. I am still trying to get the rest of the Halloween pics to unload, and will have to do them later!

Traveling in style for the Ladybug and Cinderella!

Matt jumping on the leaves on the tramp

Our desecrated Pumpkins from our crazy squirrels!

Reading before bedtimeCan you believe this adorable girl?!?

Results of the indoor "snowfall" Matt created 2 days ago!

Hold Strong, Be Firm, Love Others, Stand for Truth

I recently have found several articles in regards to many individuals and families leaving the church to send a message against the church's involvement in the passing of Prop 8. I am saddened by this and hope they will see the light and come back. We are encouraged to love the Sinner, but not the sin. When we are confronted by our friends and family in regards to this issue, remember that our standards have been mocked for almost 200 years and Christ and Moses and many others throughout History! Today is no different, but we will have to account to the Lord for our actions and not to man! Draw your line in the sand and stand for truth! Love everyone, and screw peer pressure and worldly views! OK I am off my soap box, but do wish to leave you with 3 inspirational thoughts:

2 Tim 4:7 - I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

The war goes on. It is waged across the world over the issues of agency and compulsion. It is waged by an army of missionaries over the issues of truth and error. It is waged in our own lives, day in and day out, in our homes, in our work, in our school associations; it is waged over questions of love and respect, of loyalty and fidelity, of obedience and integrity. We are all involved in it—child, youth, or adult, each of us. We are winning, and the future never looked brighter.
May our God bless us in the work that is so clearly laid out before us. May we be faithful. May we be valiant. May we have the courage to be true to the trust God has placed in each of us. May we be unafraid. “For [to quote the words of Paul to Timothy] God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord” (2 Timothy 1:7–8). President Hinckley
http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=02303bc909592110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1


However out of step we may seem, however much the standards are belittled, however much others yield, we will not yield, we cannot yield. President Packer
http://www.lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-401-8,00.html

Protests against the Mormon Church

Since my family has moved to California, I am now kept in the loop of a great many things going on there. My father sent me the article linked below from the online LDS Magazine Meridian. It is written by an LDS Police Officer in L.A. His perspective is a very interesting one and the article is a good read. He talks of tolerance, standing up for what you believe and turning to our Savior in these perilous times. Above all, it is so important for us to remember to love everyone since we are all sinners, but do not love or condone the sin. I have family members who live alternative life styles and one who even protested in Church Headquarters in Salt Lake last week after Prop 8 passed in California. I simply wanted to pass on this article, since it helped me know how to speak with others and remember that we are all God's Children with Free Agency and it is so easy to get caught up in the worldly way of hate and bitterness. Love to you all!

http://www.ldsmag.com/ideas/081110hate.html

My Baby is not so Baby Anymore

Evie is about to be 11 months and I and I am not ready! She is trying to walk everywhere and can along chairs and couches and people. She can make it accross the room and maybe fall once or twice! She is naming people: Ma = Matt, Maaaammmaaaa = Mom, Dada = Dad, and D = Didi. She wants to be just like her big brother and sister and follows them everywhere. Matt still plays well with her, and is mostly gentle with her. Didi is still learning to share (we have to re-learn it everyday!). She loves the leaves and doesn't mind walking or crawling on them. Next month she will be one and we are playing a simple family party. I am sure we will also celebrate in California after Christmas with the Sorensons. We will be heading there from Dec 22nd - Jan 2nd and it should be a grand holiday!

Random Mandi Thoughts

OK - when you were a kid - did you ever find yourself thinking, "When I am a parent, I will never say such stupid things like my parents do!"? My mom told me that she thought it, and her mom thought it, but here I am the 3rd generation and I am saying the same stupid things my parents said and even new ones that I make up on my own!

Happiness is a new broom!

We have the wackiest squirrels! They have invaded all 4 of our pumpkins (before we got a chance to carve them!) and eaten EVERY seed inside! If that wasn't enough, we have watched them fight over the right to go inside and collect seeds! My pumpkins! Even the one I was going to use to cook Rainee's stew recipe inside! How Rude!

Way too much TV - I want to boycot TV again! We got rid of it years ago and then we got it back and now we are dictating our schedules by it and not being as productive and I just want to scream!!! You know me and getting stuff done! I done have 50 things done by 9am, I have failed for the day!

Great movies - Notting Hill, CLUE!, Space Jam, Shrek, Overboard, The Hunt for Red October

I am again to the point I get to every 4 years! Part of me doesn't care who wins any of the elections, I just want the commercials to stop and the namecalling and mudslinging which EVERY candidate does whether they say they do or not! Can we just vote already!

I just want to add one more point and whether or not you agree or disagree, I don't care, I just want to say it! Mr. Obama, people who do not vote early ARE NOT LAZY!!! There are genuine people out there who simply are confused and DON'T KNOW which candidate will screw the country up less! There, I have said my peace and you can says yours on your own blog, just not my blog!

Nothing is anything without hard work or persecution!

I love squash! How I did not like it as a kid, I will never know! I was an idiot! (Just ask Jeff, I'm sure he'll tell you!)

Ok enough of my random thoughts! Bless you all for reading my jibberish! :)

Potty Training Blues!

OK - Matt took 2 years - granted the Autism might have added to the longevity of the process, but I started the year with 3 kids in diapers and I am bound and determined to end the year with only Chubs in diapers! So, we went to the store and Didi picked out special underwear and then had her first of 3 accidents in them today within 20 minutes! UGH! I was hoping she'd be easy! I know I am complaining on the first day, but after 2 years of struggling with Matt, I was praying for a miracle! Oh well, back to the old drawing board tomorrow! :)

New Pictures, Finally!

OK - everyone has been bugging me for new pictures of all the kids - so here they are pure and simple! (Sorry they are in reverse time order - I am still getting the hang of this blogger stuff!!)

Matt's #6 Birthday - we tried to go mini-golfing - do you see any pics??? Yeah, it didn't work! the kids tried to steal everyone's golf balls and clubs!! hehehehe - Aug 2008

Didi - just goofing around - Aug 2008

Matt's First Day of Kindergarten!! - Sorry it is sideways - Aug 2008



Chubs - Ain't she a cutie??? - Aug 2008

Rubba Dub-Dub-Three kids in a tub - Aug 2008

All 3 kids in the old playroom - Aug 2008

Evie (aka Chubs) just dancing to the music at the Pontius Home - July 2008


Didi dancing on the Amtrak on our way to Chicago in June 2008

Evie Crawling at our old home in June 2008

We are now in Chicago!

Now that we have finally unpacked everything, I think I can get back to this whole blogging thing! My computer is also fixed and I am now loading all the needed software onto my new 1 terabyte hard drive! Once I get it all working, I can finally upload some new pictures!! Here is the news on the kids!

Matt is now back in school in Kindergarten and loving it. He sees the bus and runs to catch up to it! The program here is very similar to his old one in Chesterfield and the teachers are wonderful! He is bused upto a school in Shorewood which is about 20-25 minutes north by Joliet. He is becoming more talkative and seems to be settling in here!

Denise (Didi) is loving their new playrom. Each day, she begs me for "school stuff" which is a collection of educational toys I have to work on letters, numbers, shapes, colors, patterns, reading and math. She continues to astound me by sounding out simple words and being able to read them. She is way to smart for her own good sometimes, especially since having a verbal child is a new experience for us. She started a once a week preschool program at the preschool and loves it! We are comtemplating putting her in each morning so I can help out at the office until we need full time help.

Genevieve (Evie) is now 9 months old and is growing like a weed. She is beginning another growth spurt and it concerns me since she is in 18 month clothes and I am not ready to have a 9-10 month old in 24 month clothes! She is still ahead of both of the other 2 kids on the growth charts and I just hope she has a great jumpshot! Tooth number 4 broke through this weekend, which I am thankful for. She wants to eat solid food, but has had to gum it to death.

John's practice continues to grow and we are now providers for Blue Cross / Blue Shield of Illinois which is the largest provider in this area. Our biggest problem is that he keeps healing everyone and then they move to wellness care which is less frequent. However, this is a major plus in the long run since referral-based advertising is the best advertising, but the slowest!! Shortly, we will also be having our first Radio ad run!

Now that the house is all unpacked, I have restarted my crazy job of moving wearing many hats! (Motherhood, Home Maker, Office Manager, Bookkeeper, Craft Lady, Chef, and Taxi Driver!) Life is busy, but we love being back up north and in the Chicago area. We went camping this weekend (just one night since the kids had never been camping before), and then decided to go to the Field Museum in Chicago. The kids loved it and we even stopped bya nd saw Aunt Lulu for a few minutes. She lives north of the museum, since Northwestern Law School is right there on Lake Shore Drive. The kids loved it all and even got to help daddy row a boat and see a dinosaur! However we had to laugh when Didi told us that every skeleton (even the Walrus, Donkey and Snake ones) was a dinosaur!

Hopefully the computer issues will all settle down and I will be able to get our latest pictures up for all to see!

OK everyone! I stink at blogging! Evie is now 5 months and is helping me type this message. She rolls everywhere and one of these days I need to have her weighed. She is growing out of her 9 month clothes already! Didi now knows all of her letters and the sounds most of them make. If I make the phonetic sound, she can spell out simple words! She never ceases to amaze us all! Matt just finished his regular school year and will head back for summer session on June 2nd. He completed several of his goals and will start on new ones this fall in Kindergarten! He too can spell out familiar words and surprised his teachers when he spelled out "teamwork" on 2 separate occasions on Wednesday! Meanwhile, John is in Chicago! We are heading home to the burbs of Chicago where John is going to start a practice. He should have his licence around June 5th and hopes to have all the equipment ready to go in the office location at that time. We are actually heading to Braidwood, IL which is where John graduated from High School and spent time there before his mission. He is already working on our website (www.bigjohngentlehands.com) and will open Gentle Hands Chiropractic sometime after his licence clears. I will let everyone know when the website is up an running. We will also have pics of the office and Big John hard at work! I am just maintaining the home and prepping it for sale sometime this summer. John will remain in Braidwood for the next few months and once everything is prepared, we will move the rest of the family up there! We are looking forward to being close by friends and my sister who will be downtown Chicago this fall for Law School. All our love! Mandi
ps-I will try to get some new pics up once John comes back with my camera!

Easter Egg Hunt

Last Saturday, Aunt Lulu came to visit. First stop of the morning was the Hare in the Air event at Logan College of Chiropratic. They had a petting zoo, fire trucks to check out, Easter Egg Hunts, and the Easter Bunny arrives in the Channel 5 Helicopter. Didi loved the animals, but Matt was unsure of them. Didi and Matt loved the Egg Hunts, and Matt even got to have a "special" friend help him hunt. Didi did a nose dive on the sidewalk, but was still chomping at the bit to get out there on the hunt. We all took a picture with the Easter Bunny--even though Mommy had to sit next to him and let everyone else sit on her lap! And, of course, Evie slept through it all!! The innocence of children never ceases to amaze me and helps me to love and cherish their little lives. Enjoy Easter everyone!

New to blogging

OK - so I am now officially a blogger. Everyone begged me to get on to Facebook and I did that and now everyone is asking for me to blog. Apparently, we have funny stories on a daily basis from my kids and so those of you who have asked for a blog of these stories, this is for you!

Evie is growing like a weed. She is officially 3 months old. At her 2 month check up she was 15 lbs and 14 oz and 25 3/4 inches long. She is bigger than either Matt or Didi were at her age. She is in 6-9 months clothes and size 2 shoes!

Didi is learning so much. She knows her numbers, shapes, letters and colors. She is almost perfect on green, but still wants to call it yellow. When Uncle Travis visited, he videoed her saying orange, which she pronounces "orgy." He is going to put it up on YouTube. Soon, we are going to start potty training. She is a wonderful sister to Matt and understands his differences and loves to pretend with her baby as I take care of Evie.

Matt is now 5 1/2 years old and is in his 3rd year at Clarkson Valley Special Education Preschool. He loves to color and "read" books. He has several memorized and his favorites are "Bubbles, Bubbles," "Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb," and "There's a Moster at the End of This Book." He is a very good big brother and now is officialy Potty Trained! YEAH!!

We are currently living in St. Louis while John finishes up his Masters in Sports Therapy and Rehab. He obtained his Doctor's of Chiropractic in December. We are looking at John teaching school while we build his chiropractic business on the side. If all goes well, we will only need to teach for one year and then we'll get a clinic setup shortly after that.